- Tuesday, June 06, 2023
Dinner Table Talks create the opportunity for families to have important conversations centered around books. These discussions will build our capacity for talking about race and define our roles in fighting against both every day and systemic racism.
Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist by Julie Leung
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"Life in Gum Saan will be like a blank paper,
and we will decide how to mark it."
--Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist
Wong Geng Yeo was born in China. At 9 years-old, he became a boy named Look Tai Yow and immigrated to America with his father. In America, his teachers changed his name to Tyrus Wong. The one name that never changed was artist. Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist is the story of a young Chinese boy who became more than just a paper son, creating art for one of the most famous movies of its time and ultimately making his mark on the world.
Guidelines for Discussion
- Be open and honest--even when it's hard.
- Understand your own prejudice and bias.
- Embrace other cultures or races by reading books, watching movies and going to community events.
- Celebrate yourself and your own cultural identity.
- Don't shy away from conversations about race. Talking is how you build capacity for anti-racism.
- Acknowledge your mistakes and learn from them.
- It's okay not to know the answer. Look for it together.
Adapted from the Embrace Race and MomsRisings' 10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race and Richland Library's Let's Talk Race team
Questions for Conversation
Younger Children (Preschool to 2nd Grade)
These can be difficult conversations to have with children. If adults need extra support for these discussions, you can learn more at Embrace Race.
- The title of the book is Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist. Do you know what it means to be an immigrant? (Immigrant [im-i-gruh nt] (noun) a person who moves to a country from somewhere else | from learningforjustice.org)
- What was your favorite part of the book and why?
- Why do you think Tyrus and his father came to America?
- Tyrus "preferred sketching to science. Doodles to diagrams. Art to arithmetic." What do you like about school? What do you dislike about school? What's your favorite way to be creative?
- How would you feel if your teacher changed your name?
- Tyrus's father saved up enough money for him to attend art school. Can you think of a time when an adult or a friend made it possible for you to do something that you really wanted to do?
- How do you think Tyrus felt when Walt Disney selected him to lead the work on Bambi? How do you think Tyrus felt after he was asked to no longer work for Disney? Have you ever been selected to be a leader?
- Do you have a friend like Tyrus? Why do you think they're alike?
Older Children (3rd Grade & Older)
- Before he was Tyrus Wong, his name was Wong Geng Yeo. It was very common then and even now for immigrants that come to America to change their name. Why do you think they do this? If you were to move to another country, like China, would you consider changing your name?
- It took a lot of courage for Tyrus to leave his mother and home to come to America. He kept his happiness through his art and used that to continue to help others. What are your special talents? How could you use them to help others and to be able to work to make this world a better place.
- How do you think Tyrus felt having to pretend to be someone else to immigrate to America?
- Is America really "Gum Saan" or "Gold Mountain"? Do you think that everyone has equal opportunities?
- Tyrus's father had a good education but was only able to get work as "a servant, a laundryman, a waiter." Why do you think those were the jobs available to Chinese immigrants?
- Tyrus's father saved up enough money for him to attend art school. Can you think of a time when someone made an opportunity possible for you?
- How do you think Tyrus felt when Walt Disney selected him to lead the work on Bambi? How do you think Tyrus felt after he was fired from Disney? If you could be selected to lead a project, what would it be?
- Do you have a friend like Tyrus? Why do you think they're alike?
Take a look at the video below to hear more about the author and illustrator and how they recreated Tyrus Wong's story within the pages of their book.
Want to continue the conversation? Need more resources about race?
Take a look at the booklists below to learn more about more Asian and Asian American stories and history:
- Read All About It: Historical Asian & Asian American Titles for Children and Teens
- Read All About It: Asian & Asian American Biographies for Children
Also, check out our Understanding Race, Equity and Inclusion resource for more books, podcasts, events and information.